The college admissions process is undergoing significant changes, driven by technological advances, evolving policies, and a shift in priorities. As students and families navigate this evolving landscape, it’s crucial to stay ahead of key trends shaping the way college applications are assessed in 2025-2026. From test-optional policies and AI-powered tools to a greater focus on holistic applications and career-oriented programs, these shifts are creating new opportunities for students to showcase their strengths and interests.
Many colleges stopped requiring the SAT or ACT for admission during the pandemic. As a result, the move toward test-optional admissions gained significant momentum, offering students more flexibility in how they present their academic achievements. Over 1,800 colleges and universities have adopted test-optional policies, with many citing the pandemic as a catalyst for reevaluating the importance of standardized testing. Institutions like the University of Chicago, Bowdoin College, and Wesleyan University were among the first to champion test-optional admissions, even before the pandemic, recognizing that test scores often reflect access to resources rather than potential.
However, this shift doesn’t mean SAT and ACT scores are obsolete. For some students, strong test scores can still enhance applications, particularly at competitive schools. For example, while the University of California system has gone fully test-blind, meaning test scores aren’t considered at all, institutions like Georgetown University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have returned to requiring standardized test scores. MIT made this announcement in March 2022, explaining, “Our research shows standardized tests help us better assess the academic preparedness of all applicants, and also help us identify socioeconomically disadvantaged students who lack access to advanced coursework or other enrichment opportunities that would otherwise demonstrate their readiness for MIT.”
Read more at Forbes.
